Immigrating with a dog
 

Hello everyone,

We are hoping to move over to Canada via the intra company transfer process, which we looked into after getting some cracking advice from Christmas on this very site!

We are in the process of sorting everything out, however I wonder who has moved over with an animal? I have a rescue dog who would like to come (!). He is a Belgian Shepard. Can anyone who has moved to Ontario with a dog let me know how you went about it? I have put in for a quote from one company but am still waiting to hear back. What I am aware of so far though is animals cant go on any flights and there are only certain flights which take animals in the hold.

Thank you

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Air Transat - depending on weight, pets can be transported as accompanying excess baggage once they resume flights in June :) https://www.airtransat.com/en-GB/Tra...d-service-dogs Air Transat do not require you to use a pet transportation company.. Air Canada may do, if your dog is larger than allowed as baggage - via Cargo.

Lots of threads on the subject if you search :)
We have a very useful wiki on the subject too.. https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Transporting_Pets-Canada

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Thank you very much!

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Very welcome! One thing though - I thought you were applying under the Self Employment Route?
I don't think you would be permitted to move to Canada on an inter company transfer if you are self employed and own the company in the UK!

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Hi sushilover.....another Belgian Shepherd here wanting to move with me too!! Alberta for me with Rory, a young Main Coon cat. Riot's a Tervuren aged 11. I expect he'll be 12 or 13 by the time we make it over. His mother is 16 so long life genes have passed on I hope.
I'll be watching your thread if you don't mind, and will post anything of interest I come across. I'll look into the Air Transit option... but my local kennel owner has experience of taking a dog to Manchester to get transported and was very impressed with the whole welfare and processing, which I find quite reassuring!
Good luck with it all! Viv.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

In the same boat hereAs far as I know at the moment Air trans does not take cargo booking. For now just air Canada from Heathrow what for me is an extra pain and the cost since the dogs ( two big ones) need to go there at least a day earlier. And Air Canada is more expensive than air trans.
As well as there is no guarantee they will be on the same plane as us.
If you have any newer news I would appreciate a shout.
Good luck

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Well, its good to hear I'm not alone! Still haven't heard from the people I asked for a quote, so its back to the drawing board. I'll look into air transit, its all a bit up in the air at the moment but fortunately we have a friend in Ontario we can stay with for a bit - the next hurdle is going to find somewhere to live that will accept the dog. Arek, I'm guessing the air transit rule re no cargo has something to do with covid?

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Hi there, no we have had everything checked out and going through the process now, just waiting on confirmation of registration of the company in Ontario, that needs done before we can put the application in.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

If you're still applying under the Self Employed route, then no, it doesn't! No need for a company set up in Canada at all to get a visa.

Top tip: if you hit the 'quote' button then people know who you're responding to, and you can also use the 'multi-quote' button to respond to more than one person at once.

HTH.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

It's winter/summer schedule. It supposed to change in April but because of Covid changes mid June. It might be also to do with their financial issues and air Canada deal collapsing. And Canadian shutdown as well.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

You do not need to register a company to apply under the Self Employed PR stream... quite the opposite! Under that stream you are saying that you have been self employed in the past and intend to be self employed in the future... you don't even have to open a company when you get here!

If you are trying to register an incorporated limited company you will need someone in Canada to act as your director - a requirement under Ontario regulations is for one director at minimum to be residing in Canada - https://www.ontario.ca/page/incorpor...ss-corporation.

To qualify for an Intra Company Transfer Temporary Work Permit you will need to meet many conditions.

I strongly suggest you read this: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...n-foreign.html
and under 'start up' - and documentation requirements on this one https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...-code-c12.html

I'm wondering which Immigration Consultant is advising you to register a company in Ontario to apply for a TWP temporary work permit under intra company transfer - which isn't a PR route, just a way of getting a work permit and then after a year or more of working in Canada applying under the Canadian Experience Stream, if you still qualify. (Immigration changes constantly)

Something else to consider... as Temporary Work Permit holders, you may be required to show proof of ties to the UK.. and an intent to return.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

We moved to Canada with 3 dogs in 2018.Transported ourselves using Air Canada from Heathrow to Toronto. Details in thread below
https://britishexpats.com/forum/cana...canada-909254/

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

I dont know the state of the industry at the moment but 3years ago we used Air Transat for our 27kg Labrador. They were fantastic and he was absolutely fine in his crate, nothing at all to worry about. I simply phoned them up and made arrangements well in advance. He was on the same flight as us and essentially went as oversized luggage, with abit more paperwork.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Just to clarify you just called Air Transat customer service/ booking number (?) and just sorted it out with them? Getting any info about future services would be good. Animal transportation companies Kona jack s..t ;-)

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

See the side panel on the right of this page for the phone number :)
https://www.airtransat.com/en-GB/Tra...d-service-dogs

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Just to make everybody awareThere is a list of breeds and their crosses not allowed on Air Transat flights. Despite the fact that for example Ontario allows some those breed to be transported to, those dogs will NOT be allowed on the plane.
I have a Rottweiler cross old lady. Unfortunately her age , neutering etc don't matter. Dog will not be allowed on the air Transat flight and in order to get to Canada will have to fly from Heathrow with air Canada or British airways.
Assessment takes place in the UK and it's performed by air Transat.
Bummer :-(

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

That's a generic 'not allowed' due to some country restrictions. it may be worth contacting them directly and explaining/asking - you have nothing to lose by doing so :)

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

The information provided is after speaking to them directly. They do not accept lab DNA breed test their assessment is based on declaration and visual inspection.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

We brought our mutt on Air Canada. Key things we learned...
1. AC required an agency to deal with the dog. We were not allowed to do it ourselves. A local kennels provided this service and dealt with all the paperwork, the pre-flight health checks and transportation to the airport.
2. Even airlines that do take dogs have various restrictions. AC will not take an animal if the temperature at either take off or destination is above 29.5C. That is probably not a problem in a lot of places but we were coming from the tropics and the temp reached 29C while we were at the airport ! Make sure you check all details.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Hi sushilover ,
We came to Canada in January 2020, just before COVID hit and we also brought our 2 Boxer dogs with us.
We used a company in the UK called TransFur, they were amazing!! They got us the flights booked and crates sorted (this was the biggest thing for us as we didn't have the crates ourselves and wasn't too sure about just buying one outright). They informed us of the process we would have to go through, like veterinary checks and when they were needed (10 days prior to leaving), and ensuring that the crates were delivered with enough time for the dogs to get used to. Even when one of mine decided to chew the crate, when we called them and sent them photo's, they let us know what to do.
Their prices were pretty good and we were able to travel from Manchester so saved us some money there. I cannot fault them at all!

Please be aware that it is a very long process for them, even if they're on the same flight as you (as ours were). They had to be "checked in" 3 hours before the flight and then loaded up into the cargo hold. Then you have to make sure that you go to collect them at the right area and because our dogs weren't small, we had to collect them at the customs office. Pay them and give them all the paperwork and then collect them. They were in the crates for 16 ish hours and were very desperate for a wee, but overall very happy to see us :)

Hope this helps in your quest to coming to Canada.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

It was 4 years ago but we travelled with Air Transit from Gatwick via Toronto to Regina, Saskatchewan. We had no issues at all. Our dog was 14 when we traveled and she was great when we got to see her in Toronto. We used a product called zylkene that we got from our vet that calmed her ( not a sedative as not allowed). As we were landing as Permanent Residents we had to go through all the paperwork but the cbsa were amazing and processed our paperwork as quickly as possible. We had our beautiful pup for another 2 and a half years then sadly she passed at 16.5 years. She had a great life and she was the most travelled dog i knew.
She was lab/collie cross so not a small dog for travellling. We found out that there was a cat next to her so at least she company.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

We flew our dog out in July 2020 London Heathrow to Toronto via British airways cargo. We used a company called pet air, communication and organization were amazing. Not the cheapest process as British airways decided to drastically increase the price of the loading pallet the week before he flew so we had no choice but to pay it but I’d have paid anything at that point just to get him out to us.

He was crated a lot longer than we though , crated 3 hrs before the flight, 7.5hr flight and then the unloaded/clearing customs took another 2-3 hrs but they do put a water container in and I’d highly recommend going with a wooden crate over a plastic crate as it’s quieter for them. We put a small tea towel size cut of his favourite blanket in his crate with him for comfort too.

Be prepared for the most stressful day of your life the day your furbaby flies, but honestly you’ll be 100% more stressed than they will find the whole experience. Our dog is very nervous, doesn’t like loud noises and hates being alone for long periods of time so I was dreading the whole thing. But he came bounding out his crate when we picked him up , totally unscathed!

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Hi,
our 11yr old staffie male and 6yr old male cat both touched down in Vancouver BC 2weeks ago. We used Tim Finley Pet Services to sort everything out from vet checks to be signed off fit to fly, a custom built crate for our dog, and he had good knowledge of what airlines and routes we could use given that our dog is a banned breed in Ontario so that meant all flights which landed in Ontario were out of the question even as a transiting airport. I won't lie, the final invoice wasn't cheap BUT we got them both there safe and sound and that was the main thing.

Hope that helps some of you

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Another vote for Air Transat - albeit 4 years ago. Transported our then 5-year-old golden retriever as excess baggage. Considerably cheaper than any quote I received from a specialist firm, with the added benefit of not needing to have our dog there the day/days before the departure. The hardest part was finding a crate large enough and the responsibility of making the paperwork was in order - vaccinations and pet passport etc. TBH the info you need is readily available online, here, Air Transat or Canadian border services websites. I literally phoned the airline and booked him on the same flight as me, just be sure to do so well in advance to ensure there is space.

Bailey had excellent care from both Manchester and Vancouver Airports and was really popular with passengers before being crated at the check-in desk. We were the first passengers to be checked in as we had deliberately arrived super early, and I know the check-in staff appreciated being able to deal with us before the crowds descended. Yes, it meant he was crated for a while longer, but the reduction in stress was worth it.

We did have the benefit of not needing to go through the "landing" process at immigration since we were already living in Canada and Baily had been vacaying with my Mum for a few months to make rental options easier. Arrival at YVR was smooth and speedy, save for me forgetting to declare "livestock" on the customs declaration! If you have a simple case in terms of breed and destination/availability of flights, I see no reason to pay through the nose for a specialist firm, if you have been able to navigate the immigration process, the paperwork for this is a walk in the park.

Re: Immigrating with a dog
 

Following for any further tales of dog travel!